Article · AI translation
IT Home reported on November 5 that Reddit user u/Beloved_Misanthrope posted on November 2 saying they had used the AI coding tool Claude Code to jailbreak a NordicTrack Commercial 2250 treadmill, bypass its mandatory iFIT subscription requirement, and turn its large screen into a streaming interface they could use freely.
Citing a blog post, IT Home said the AI-assisted jailbreak took about a day and a half and that the project has been made public on GitHub. The Reddit user said their girlfriend bought the NordicTrack treadmill, which has a 10-inch display, several years ago, originally hoping to watch Netflix or Crunchyroll while exercising.
In practice, however, even after paying for streaming services, they still had to subscribe to iFIT separately to access those features. Everyday workouts also required waiting for iFIT to load and dealing with ads and membership prompts.
To get around the subscription barrier, the Reddit user used Claude Code to modify the treadmill's system. The modified device has a custom home screen with Netflix, Crunchyroll, workout data, and control options; users can still operate its fitness features while watching videos, and the physical buttons remain functional. The report also said Netflix's launch time fell from nearly a minute to about 21 seconds.
The modification has drawbacks, however. Netflix currently supports only standard-definition video at most on the device, and a factory reset may erase the changes. More significantly, modifying the system of motorized exercise equipment may pose safety risks and affect the manufacturer's warranty.